Firm’s Aviation Law practice advises on landmark A320neo fleet order for Kuwait’s Wataniya Airways
At the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow, Guzman Acain LLP attorney Alexander Llanes Acain Jr. played a key legal role in finalizing a landmark aircraft purchase agreement between Airbus and Golden Falcon Aviation, the exclusive aircraft provider for Kuwait National Airways (Wataniya Airways). The deal — covering 25 Airbus A320neo family aircraft — is valued at approximately $2.7 billion at list prices, making it one of the largest single-carrier orders announced at the show.
The A320neo aircraft will anchor Wataniya Airways’ fleet expansion as the carrier works to become one of the fastest-growing airlines in Kuwait, with the fuel-efficient, next-generation jets supporting new and existing routes across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
“This transaction required close coordination across aircraft finance, procurement, and cross-border regulatory considerations,” said Acain. “Being on the ground at Farnborough to help see it through to signing was a rewarding capstone to months of negotiation work,” Acain said.
Acain’s involvement reflects Guzman Acain LLP’s growing footprint in Aviation Law, an area of practice that has included aircraft acquisition and leasing, regulatory compliance, and airline corporate matters for clients across the Middle East and Asia. Read more about Alexander Acain Jr. or explore the firm’s Aviation Law practice.
The A320neo — the “new engine option” variant of Airbus’s best-selling single-aisle family — offered Wataniya improved fuel efficiency and per-seat economics as the airline built out its fleet to serve its planned route network across the Middle East and beyond.
The agreement was signed by Rakan Al-Tuwaijri, CEO of Golden Falcon Aviation, and Eric Schulz, Airbus’s Chief Commercial Officer. Alexander Llanes Acain Jr., a Guzman Acain LLP attorney, served as General Counsel to both Wataniya Airways and Golden Falcon Aviation and was present at the signing, alongside other representatives of the two companies. Acain’s involvement with the airline’s fleet expansion dated back at least to October 2017, when he represented Wataniya at the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers conference in Dubai, presenting lease and purchase tenders as part of the carrier’s broader aircraft-financing strategy.
Guzman Acain LLP’s aviation practice advises airlines, lessors, and aircraft operators on cross-border transactions, fleet financing, and regulatory compliance.
Originally published July 16, 2018.
Source: Kuwait’s Wataniya Airways to add 25 A320neo aircraft — Airbus Newsroom